Redevelopment of the former Fountain Brewery site in Edinburgh has moved a step closer after council planners approved the first phase.

The proposal, from Amsterdam-based real estate group Vastint Hospitality , will regenerate a well-known site that has had a mixed history and has remained vacant since the Fountain Brewery closed in 2004.

After acquiring the land for development in 2016, Vastint worked closely with the City of Edinburgh Council on the proposals. The scheme - named New Fountainbridge by Vastint - aims to create a new urban neighbourhood that balances work, living and leisure activities in the centre of Edinburgh.

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“Our plan heralds a fresh start for Fountainbridge and we look forward to working with the community to create a vibrant, new neighbourhood that forms a distinctive, urban quarter in Edinburgh,” said Vastint development manager Chris Jetten.

Features on New Fountainbridge will include a hotel and restaurant fronting a new civic space at the heart of Fountainbridge. The 262-bedroom hotel will be Marriott ’s 3-star brand, Moxy . There will also be a new office building, family housing and canal-side apartments.

The first development phase has been approved and work is expected to start on site by the end of the year.

The residential element of the scheme is still being worked up and a planning application for this phase of the project will be lodged later this year.